By Irene Gaitirira
Published December 16, 2018
The African population is in 2018 estimated to be about 1,301,489,966. This is equal to 16.64% of the total world’s population. Many Africans enjoy playing and betting on games online with Betway and you, too, can!
Studies by the United Nations Population Division show the population of Africa is accelerating. With an annual increase of 42 million people, the population of Africa will double to about 2.4 billion people in 2050. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is expected to add on more people than any other country.
RELATED:Photo Show Marks Africa’s Agricultural Revolution
What are the implications of a high population in the agribusiness sector?
Agriculture is a key factor for the success of economies of many African countries. Historically agribusiness has been the driving force for economies of many countries around the globe, including Brazil and China.
Africa’s agribusiness sector contributes about 30% to the gross domestic product (GDP) or national income of various countries. Moreover, it is a source of direct employment and income to many would-be unemployed people.
RELATED:Investor to Build 200 Hotels Across Africa
Increase in population will have both positive and negative effects on the economy of Africa. Some of the positive implications include:
- Increase in food production
- More employment opportunities
- Eradication of hunger in many parts of the African continent
- High birth rate and low mortality rates.
But, according to the Malthusian theory, an increase in population would have adverse negative effects on Africa. One of these would be food insecurity which would lead to malnutrition and hunger.
Other negative effects include:
- Low income
- High population would constrain available resources
- Developing countries would have to rely on food aid from first world countries.
Is there a solution to revive the agribusiness sector to avoid these negative implications?
RELATED:Climbing Beans Improving Rwandan Agriculture
One thing that stands out across Africa is mass availability of natural resources. However when Africa was colonised what the colonisers failed to do was to teach Africans the need for value addition instead of extraction. In the long run, this has led to the over-reliance on certain commodities to generate revenue.
There is the need for the continent to use the natural resources which are available to grow the agribusiness sector. There are vast opportunities which should be exploited to grow the agribusiness sector.
RELATED:Broadcaster Launches Anti-Disinformation Campaign
It is ironical that Africa has the world’s largest reservoir of unused arable land but it still has the lowest food production rate of about 10%. Moreover, the continent heavily depends on imported agricultural sector which demeans its own. There is a need to exploit this arable land. Africa can feed Africa.
Africa should turn the increase in population as a key factor to increase food security. The population will mostly be made up of the youth which means that they can make up an energetic labor force that can produce more food for every mouth.
RELATED:Africa’s Travel and Tourism Trends Revealed
Africa’s agribusiness sector is divided into two categories: small-scale farmers and multinational agri companies. Though the small-scale farmers produce 80% of the food consumed in Africa, they face challenges such as poor farming techniques, poor financial standing and poor technology. There is need to motivate and support these small-scale farmers for Africa to be guaranteed food security.
